Brace for gates



(No ModelL) S. P. HODGEN.

BEACH FDR GATES.

Patented Jan. 6

m iiilil UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL PARK HODGEN, OF PITTSFIELD, ILLINOIS.

BRACE FOR GATES.

SPECIFICATION" forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,996, dated January6, 1891.

Application filed \T 3 16, 1890. Serial No. 358,887- (No model.) i

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL PARK H01)- GEN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Pittsfield, in the county of Pike and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Brace for Gates, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in braces for gates.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive brace adapted to be readily applied to a gate of theordinary construction, more particularly to brace old dilapidated ones,and capable of being readily tightened from time to time to preventsagging.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination ofparts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a gate provided withabrace constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a planView. Figs. 3 and i are detail views of the wedge and the wear-plate.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a gate of ordinaryconstruction comprising the instile 2, the outstile 3, and horizontalrails or bars 4, and supported by a brace 5, constructed of a singlepiece of wire extending diagonally around the gate from the inner upperend thereof toward the lower outer end. Interposed between the wirebrace and the outer face of the outstile is a wedge 6, and when the gatesags so that it doesnot latch as it should, by holding the outer end ofthe gate up in its proper position with one hand and with a hammerdriving the wedge downward the brace will be tightened and securely holdthe gate in its proper position. The wire brace 5 takes the place of theordinary inclined brace of a gate, and the wedge 6 is constructed asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the accompanyingdrawings, having itsinner face, which lies adjacent to and in contact with the outstile,curved. A wooden wedge or a metal plate may be employed, and in allcases the wedges and plates used are as wide or of greater width thanthe outstile to prevent the wires coming in contact therewith. Thesemi-oval wedge is adapted to be readily moved upward and downward, andis provided in its fiat face 8 with a notch or groove 9 to receive thebrace. The instile 2' has secured to one of its faces-the one adjacentto the hinge-posta metal plate 7, which is interposed between the saidstile and the brace and serves as a wear-plate or bearing to prevent thebrace from becoming embedded in the gate. The plate '7 at the upperinner end of the. gate may, if desired, be omitted.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The combination of thegate, the brace constructed of wire and encircling the gate diagonally,and the semi-oval wedge provided with a groove or indentation to receivethe brace and adapted to be driven downward, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL PARK HODGEN.

Witnesses:

R. W. MEHAN, THOMAS VAUGHN.

